It’ll be a rematch of last year’s CIF Southern Section Open Division championship match when the Santiago girls soccer team takes on Santa Margarita at El Modena High in Orange on Friday at 7:15 p.m.
But the Sharks, the inaugural Open Division champions after defeating Santa Margarita 2-0 in the 2024 final, aren’t thinking about last year.
“I’m not surprised to see them. They’re a quality team,” Santiago coach Mike Fleming said. “I think it says something to have the same two teams meet in the Open Division final again, and maybe there’s something to be said about the experience of playing in the Open, but this is a new year and a new experience.”
Santa Margarita went on to beat Santiago in a shootout in the CIF State Division I regional championship match a week later, so Fleming and the Sharks (21-2-2 overall) know the Eagles (17-1-2) are more than capable of a championship performance.
“It’s two veteran programs with good soccer traditions,” he said. “We have massive respect for their program, their coaches, their players and I think it’s going to be a good match.”
This is the sixth section finals appearance for Santiago (2010, 2015, 2020, 2022 and 2024 previously).
“Nobody expected us to win in 2015 (and) nobody expected us to win in 2020,” Fleming said. “Now, all of sudden, it’s ‘Can we do it again?’ It’s different.”
Heritage (18-8-1), in its first finals appearance, hosts Viewpoint in the Division 5 girls title match Friday at 7 p.m.
Heritage defeated Rialto in the second round, Jurupa Valley in the quarterfinals and Patriot in the semifinals to advance. The team has allowed only one goal in the playoffs.
In a first for any team sport at Vista del Lago, the Ravens (13-12-1) host Marshall in the Division 7 girls championship match on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Coach Chris Morfin knew that despite early losses – Vista del Lago dropped its first seven matches and 11 of its first 13 – the team had immense potential.
“The team maintained a strong belief that with dedication and perseverance, positive results would eventually come,” Morfin said. “It’s a fascinating feeling to see that teamwork pay off.”
Temecula Prep (12-8-2) plays at South El Monte in the Division 8 girls final on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Only the third team in school history to reach a final, Temecula Prep finished fifth in the South Valley League but is riding a six-match winning streak.
On the boys side, Jurupa Hills (17-6-4) will take on perennial power Harvard-Westlake in the Division 2 final at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach on Saturday at 6 p.m.
“This is my first legit group of seniors but even they outperformed my expectations,” said Jurupa Hills coach Gilberto Castillo, who first coached the team during the 2021-22 season.
“Trying to build back that team culture from COVID is what I’ve been trying to do the last four years,” Castillo said. “These kids need that support, both on and off the pitch, and once you get the kids to believe then everything else falls into place.”
The Spartans have previously won section titles in football (2013, 2023) and softball (2014) but this is the first try for soccer.
“To me, this means a lot,” senior goalkeeper Diego Ramos said. “I feel like it’s a big accomplishment for the program and for me, personally, after four years here, I’m just grateful.”
Jurupa Hills won the San Andreas League postseason tournament with a 2-0 win over Kaiser and has won six consecutive matches.
A finalist in the Small Schools Division in 1989, Yucaipa (15-7-4) will make its first finals appearance in more than 35 years when it plays Laguna Beach in the Division 4 title match at El Modena High on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Thunderbirds finished fourth in the Citrus Belt League but have won two playoff matches in overtime and outscored opponents 7-2 in an impressive postseason run.
